Writing with Pride
All written and visual material on this page and in the accompanying PowerPoint program is intended for limited educational use only and not for broad distribution or copying. This page and program follow the Fair Use rules as outlined by the American Library Association.
Recommended Media
Web Resources: Overview
• 13 LGBTQ WRITERS YOU SHOULD READ: https://www.britannica.com/list/9-queer-writers-you-should-read
• A to Z LIST OF NOTED LGBTQ WRITERS: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_LGBTQ_writers
• “MUST READ” LIST: https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/books/g39598614/best-books-by-lgbtq-writers/
• 10 TRAILBLAZERS: https://www.tatler.com/gallery/10-authors-you-might-not-have-realised-were-lgbtqia
• 20 LGBTQ AUTHORS: https://archive.bookstr.com/list/20-queer-authors-from-history-who-you-need-to-know/
• 5 AUTHORS WHO MADE HISTORY: https://diva-magazine.com/2024/02/20/5-lgbtqia-authors-who-made-history/
Web Resources: Print
• JAMES BALDWIN: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Baldwin• JAMES BALDWIN: https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/introduction-james-baldwin• BALDWIN INTERVIEW: https://www.theparisreview.org/interviews/2994/the-art-of-fiction-no-78-james-baldwin• 10 THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW: https://www.arts.gov/stories/blog/2024/ten-things-you-may-not-know-about-james-baldwin • RITA MAE BROWN: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rita_Mae_Brown • BROWN OVERVIEW: https://provincetownindependent.org/arts-minds/2024/10/16/rita-mae-brown-is-funny-even-when-she-fights/ • BROWN OVERVIEW: https://www.sbc.edu/live/news/3263-bestselling-author-rita-mae-brown-encourages-trust# • BROWN INTERVIEW: https://virginialibrariesjournal.org/articles/10.21061/valib.v50i1.925 • GEORGE M. JOHNSON WEBSITE: https://iamgmjohnson.com/• GEORGE M. JOHNSON: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_M._Johnson_(writer) • JOHNSON ON DIVERSITY: https://www.bucknell.edu/news/author-george-m-johnson-speaks-about-importance-diverse-storytelling • JOHNSON INTERVIEW: https://www.buzzfeed.com/terrycarter/george-m-johnson-black-history-month-interview • LARRY KRAMER: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Kramer• KRAMER NYTIMES OBITUARY: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/27/us/larry-kramer-dead.html• KRAMER OVERVIEW: https://www.newyorker.com/culture/postscript/larry-kramer-had-the-courage-to-act-on-his-fear • KRAMER NYPL OVERVIEW: https://www.nypl.org/blog/2022/06/24/remembering-larry-kramer-harnessed-anger-propel-creativity-action • KRAMER UNITED NATIONS OVERVIEW: https://www.unaids.org/en/resources/presscentre/pressreleaseandstatementarchive/2020/may/20200528_PS_Kramer • AUDRE LORDE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audre_Lorde • LORDE POETRY: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/audre-lorde• LORDE OVERVIEW: https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/audre-lorde • THE AUDRE LORDE PROJECT: https://alp.org/about• LORDE (SMITHSONIAN): https://nmaahc.si.edu/audre-lorde • ARMISTEAD MAUPIN: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armistead_Maupin • MAUPIN WEBSITE: https://www.armisteadmaupin.com/home• MAUPIN NYTIMES INTERVIEW: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/07/books/review/armistead-maupin-by-the-book-interview.html • MAUPIN’S MOVE TO LONDON: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/feb/24/look-at-your-country-its-amazing-armistead-maupin-on-moving-to-london
Web Resources: Video
• BALDWIN CENTENNIAL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuwx86B9TDE
• BALDWIN TEDEd TALK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKku0AfTs0c
• BALDWIN 1969 INTERVIEW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWwOi17WHpE
• BROWN INVERVIEW 50th ANNIVERSARY OF RUBYFRUIT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7w1DC2GZ7Q8
• BROWN: 2024 INTERVIEW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQMxEvJ-sIw
• JOHNSON INTERVIEW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRXKU6otlWI
• JOHNSON INTERVIEW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OG48cFoEags
• JOHNSON OVERVIEW (BANNING BOOKS): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVw2U_IgpMQ
• KRAMER 2006 CBS INTERVIEW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVw2U_IgpMQ
• KRAMER ON THE NORMAL HEART: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVq0FcARYTM
• KRAMER ON AIDS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avITb-TZWOQ
• KRAMER SHORT OVERVIEW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_rVxCwTKuc
• LORDE SHORT BIO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_rVxCwTKuc
• LORDE SHORT BIO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQlClebaPdM
• LORDE 1982 AUDIO INTERVIEW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4rDL-xZ8N0
• LORDE OVERVIEW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4rDL-xZ8N0
• MAUPIN DOCUMENTARY: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0kGn5xK6OY
• MAUPIN INTERVIEW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uc7HmmdW3gE
• MAUPIN INTERVIEW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ceoERhJ-Ew
• MAUPIN AND McKELLEN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqyzcMY9tIQ
Web Resources: 6 Books
- GIOVANNI’S ROOM: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giovanni%27s_Room
- GIOVANNI’S ROOM: https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/giovannis-room/
- RUBYFRUIT JUNGLE: https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/rubyfruit/
- RUBYFRUIT JUNGLE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubyfruit_Jungle
- ALL BOY’S AREN’T BLUE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Boys_Aren%27t_Blue
- ALL BOY’S AREN’T BLUE: https://www.blinkist.com/en/books/all-boys-arent-blue-en
- THE NORMAL HEART: https://www.enotes.com/topics/normal-heart
- THE NORMAL HEART: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Normal_Heart
- SISTER OUTSIDER: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sister_Outsider
- SISTER OUTSIDER: https://www.enotes.com/topics/sister-outsider
- TALES OF THE CITY: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tales_of_the_City
- TALES OF THE CITY (miniseries): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tales_of_the_City_(1993_miniseries)
Videos Used in Program
BALDWIN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZPmT3lk6cUBROWN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yv-dxWPFPBQJOHNSON: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRXKU6otlWI&t=1sKRAMER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVq0FcARYTM LORDE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diHzbQNyO2k MAUPIN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Zijt1Djvc4
Other Resources
• BALDWIN BIO (Chicago Public Library): https://www.chipublib.org/james-baldwin-biography/
• GIOVANNI’S ROOM VIDEO (William Dozier): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3cGRa-KxQM&t=93s
• RITA MAE BROWN BIO (More Than Our Childhoods): https://www.morethanourchildhoods.org/stories/rita-mae-brown/
• RUBYFRUIT JUNGLE OVERVIEW VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j67skVPJK6Y
• GEORGE M. JOHNSON BIO (Wikipedia): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_M._Johnson_(writer)
• GEORGE M. JOHNSON INTERVIEW VIDEO (Tamron Hall): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRXKU6otlWI&t=1s
• LARRY KRAMER OVERVIEW (New York Public Library): https://www.nypl.org/blog/2022/06/24/remembering-larry-kramer-harnessed-anger-propel-creativity-action
• THE NORMAL HEART (New York Times Video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVq0FcARYTM
• AUDRE LORDE BIO (National Women’s History Museum): https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/audre-lorde
• SISTER OUTSIDER VIDEO (Gender Equality Network): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkDv5vKXn54
• ARMISTEAD MAUPIN BIO (Wikipedia, e-Notes, and IMDB): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armistead_Maupin
• TALES OF THE CITY OVERVIEW VIDEO (James Ward): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPi_4-SK4Tk&t=12s
Recent LGBTQ+ Writers
Prominent 21st-century LGBTQ+ writers have reshaped modern literature across genres. From blockbuster romances to Pulitzer-winning fiction, trailblazers like Casey McQuiston, Torrey Peters, and Ocean Vuong have topped global bestseller lists and received international critical acclaim.
Fiction & Romance• Casey McQuiston: Bestselling author of the modern queer romance Red, White & Royal Blue. • Torrey Peters: First openly trans finalist for the Women's Prize for Fiction, celebrated for her bestselling novel Detransition, Baby.• T.J. Klune: Known for mainstream fantasy hits like the national bestseller The House in the Cerulean Sea.• Malinda Lo: Prominent YA author whose 21st-century historical fiction novel Last Night at the Telegraph Club won the National Book Award.
Literary & Poetry• Ocean Vuong: Acclaimed poet and novelist whose debut book, On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous, was an instant New York Times bestseller.• Hanya Yanagihara: Best known globally for her sweeping, emotionally charged bestseller A Little Life.• Carmen Maria Machado: Critically acclaimed for her genre-bending short stories and the memoir In the Dream House.
Graphic Novels & Memoirs• Alison Bechdel: Highly influential graphic novelist who penned the bestselling memoir Fun Home.
Top Selling LGBTQ+ Writers: 2026
1. Casey McQuiston
• Notable 2026 Works: Red, White & Royal Blue: The Private Correspondence (Released Dec 2026)
• Why They Are Bestselling: The undisputed monarch of queer romantic comedy, McQuiston returned to their beloved RW&RB universe with a massive holiday release, exploring Alex and Henry's lives over 17 years through personal correspondence. Their backlist titles like One Last Stop also remain steady sellers.
2. TJ Klune
• Notable 2026 Works: We Burned So Bright
• Why They Are Bestselling: A Lambda Literary Award-winning fixture, Klune shifted to a standalone novel about an older queer couple taking an end-of-the-world road trip. His consistently brilliant world-building and positive queer representation make his books automatic bestsellers on debut.
3. Rachel Reid
• Notable 2026 Works: The Shots You Take
• Why They Are Bestselling: Reid’s hockey romances are massive hits. She took home major honors at the 2026 Astra Book Awards for Best LGBTQ+ Book for this second-chance romance about retired NHL players.
4. Alice Oseman
• Notable 2026 Works: Heartstopper series (Continued success)
• Why They Are Bestselling: The reigning titan of LGBTQ+ young adult fiction, Oseman’s graphic novels and prose continue to top bestseller charts, driven both by a dedicated fan base and concurrent visual media adaptations.
Other Notable & Emerging Bestsellers
• Martha Wells: Continuing her reign in sci-fi with new entries in The Murderbot Diaries series.
• Aiden Thomas: A staple in Latine queer fantasy, drawing massive crowds for their new 2026 title, Espíritu.
• Rasheed Newson: The television producer and writer found major bestseller list success with his historical queer thriller, There's Only One Sin in Hollywood.